Fall TV Roundup, Week 3


We’re making our way through September and that brings plenty of new Fall viewing options. While the big flood is still yet to come, there are still some interesting new series being released. But what of these new shows are worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Fall. Don’t see a new show below? Check previous weeks.

Sundays:
Reunion, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered September 14)
About: This new series is an import from the United Kingdom. It stars Matthew Gurney as Daniel, a deaf man who was in prison for murder. He’s released in the pilot and now that he’s out of jail he’s reunited with his estranged daughter Carly (Lara Peake) and on a mission. It’s unclear, through the first two episodes, what precisely the mission is and what precisely led to him going to prison. But it’s clear the story doesn’t add up. This series is five episodes, each releasing Fridays on Paramount+ before airing Sundays on Showtime. I like Gurney in the lead role, and the show works best when it focuses on him and Peake. There are a number of other storylines that don’t feel fully baked—yet. Episodes are only 45 minutes, making them a quick watch, and it’s a short commitment. If you’re hooked by the premise, this will keep you coming back.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Black Rabbit, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 18)
About: The latest drama finds Jude Law and Jason Bateman as estranged brothers who are brought together by their shared money problems. Years earlier they founded a restaurant—the Black Rabbit—together. But Vince (Bateman) was bought out because of his issues and has continued to spiral down. Now, he’s back. He’s broke and facing a huge debt. Jake (Law) is trying to keep everything together and trying to expand his business, but money has become an issue. Can they work together to find a way out. This is a grim drama. I like the appeal of the two leads, but the first two episodes are long—with the second running 68 minutes. Other episodes in the eight-episode run are a bit shorter, but will you be taken with the characters and the journey? I like the potential, but there was a drag to the early episodes. I need more pop. I still like the potential, but this won’t be for everyone.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Haunted Hotel, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 19)
About: Adult animated series are flooding the market now. This new one is a 10-episode series focused on a single mother (Eliza Coupe) who inherits a hotel from her dead brother (Will Forte). The problem is her brother—and dozens of others—are trapped there as ghosts. But if you’re thinking this is a light-hearted comedy like the live-action Ghosts, this is a very different vibe. It’s more over-the-top and a little crasser. The voice cast is solid, and episodes are only 25 minutes each, making for a quick binge. I wasn’t taken with the story and set up, but if this is your thing then this will make for a nice, seasonal binge.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

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